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Symbiosis—the interaction between two organisms—can be either beneficial or harmful, depending on the context.

In some cases, we aim to promote helpful relationships between organisms. For example, we support healthy microbes in the gut and use natural enemies for biological pest control in farming. In other cases, we want to disrupt harmful interactions, such as those involving infectious diseases.

Mathematical models offer powerful tools to study these dynamics across biological scales. In this talk, I will explore two key applications of symbiosis modeling.

First, I will discuss models of infectious disease spread. I’ll begin by showing how within-host pathogen dynamics can be linked to population-level transmission, and then extend this to multiple pathogens that co-infect hosts in a population.

Second, I will present a model used to design and optimize biological control strategies in agriculture. Specifically, I’ll focus on the invasive fruit fly Drosophila suzukii—a major pest of fruits such as strawberries and cherries—and its potential control using parasitoid wasps. I’ll show how models can be used to understand the pest’s seasonal dynamics and to predict the best timing for parasitoid release.

 

Together, these examples illustrate how mathematical models can bridge biological scales and inform strategies for disease control and sustainable agriculture.

Also available on Zoom: https://ucdavis.zoom.us/j/98969645841